While the Premier League is one of Europe’s largest and most successful leagues, the Championship is not far behind, particularly in terms of drama.
Over the years, some huge teams have found themselves competing in the second division, trying to return to the top flight. This comprises Leicester City, Southampton, West Ham United, and Blackburn Rovers. Two of these teams have won the Premier League since its beginning, demonstrating how volatile the competition is.
Since 1992, earnings have gradually increased over time. Back then, John Barnes earned £10,000 per week for Liverpool. Fast forward to the start of the current season, and Erling Haaland is the highest-paid player in the top division, earning an incredible £525,000 every week. Obscene? Yes. But it won’t end there, given how much money is now streaming into the game.
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This season’s Championship may be more spectacular than the first flight. At the time of writing, there are four teams vying for the two automatic promotion spots, with only six points separating the play-off contenders and Sheffield Wednesday in 13th.
Further down the table, only 22 points separate Luton Town at the bottom and Coventry City in seventh position. Anyone can beat anyone in the second tier, which is what makes it so fun.
However, in terms of wages, it still has a long way to go to catch up with the Premier League. As such, we have taken a look into the highest earners in the division.
Note: All statistics correct at the time of writing.
| Highest-paid players in the Championship 2024/25 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Player | Club | Wage per week |
| 1 | Kelechi Iheanacho | Middlesbrough | £75,000 |
| =2 | Patrick Bamford | Leeds | £70,000 |
| =2 | Mason Holgate | West Brom | £70,000 |
| 4 | Enzo Le Fee | Sunderland | £67,500 |
| 5 | Nathaniel Phillips | Derby | £65,000 |
| =6 | Junior Firpo | Leeds | £60,000 |
| =6 | Manor Solomon | Leeds | £60,000 |
| =8 | Pascal Struijk | Leeds | £50,000 |
| =8 | Aaron Ramsey | Cardiff | £50,000 |
| =8 | Hamza Choudhury | Sheff Utd | £50,000 |
| =8 | Lewis O’Brien | Swansea | £50,000 |
| =8 | Daniel James | Leeds | £50,000 |
| Via Capology | |||
12Daniel James (Leeds)
£50,000 per week
In 2019, Daniel James had the world at his feet. The Welshman signed a five-year contract with Manchester United after leaving Swansea City for a fee of £18 million.
Nine goals and nine assists in 74 games was not a bad record, but he joined Leeds at the start of the 2021/22 season and hasn’t looked back since.
Overall, he has made 47 goal contributions during his career with the club, and he is now hoping to lead them back to the promised land after a few seasons away.
He is presently paid £50,000 per week at Leeds, making him one of the highest-paid players in the division.
11Lewis O’Brien (Swansea)
£50,000 per week
Lewis O’Brien was a member of Nottingham Forest’s first Premier League campaign this century, in 2022/23, before joining current club Swansea on loan in January.
He has played four games for the Swans and might be key in their quest for a top-half finish in the division. As a result, the midfielder is earning £50,000 a week during his short stay in Wales.
10Hamza Choudhury (Sheff Utd)
£50,000 per week
Hamza Choudhury established himself at Leicester City, where he played 131 games and won the FA Cup in 2021.
He was instrumental in the club’s promotion back to the Premier League last season, playing 34 Championship games, and it appeared that his impact would be critical in the top division.
The 27-year-old made only four appearances in the first half of the season, failing to establish himself as a regular starter, and has since been loaned out to Sheffield United.
Given his abilities, the Blades made a great decision in signing him. While at the club, he will be paid £50,000 a week.
9Aaron Ramsey (Cardiff)
£50,000 per week
Aaron Ramsey, once regarded as one of the best midfielders of his time, has returned to his original club as he nears the end of his career.
Injuries may have restricted his prospects of fulfilling his full potential, but playing for Arsenal and Juventus, as well as appearing in a European final with Rangers, have provided numerous career highlights.
A hamstring injury has plagued him this season, and he has only played seven games for Cardiff in all competitions. His contract expires at the end of the campaign, and it is unclear whether he will be offered an extension.
The 34-year-old presently earns £50,000 a week in the Championship. Given his output, this type of money may be better spent elsewhere next season.
8Pascal Struijk (Leeds)
£50,000 per week
Pascal Struijk signed with Leeds United in 2018, but did not make his debut until the 2019/20 season. Since then, the Dutchman has played over 150 games, including 82 in the Premier League.
This season in the second tier, the 25-year-old has won 60% of his total duels and helped his team retain 16 clean sheets in 29 games. His £50,000-per-week salary places him among the highest-paid players in the Championship, but on this evidence, he is well worth it.
7Manor Solomon (Leeds)
£60,000 per week
While Struijk keeps things tight at the back for Leeds, Manor Solomon is creating chances in the final third, which might propel the team back into the top division after two years away.
Indeed, the Israeli star has seven league goals and seven assists for the club this season, with the Elland Road side now leading the Championship standings.
If they go on to win promotion, the 25-year-old might be a significant figure if Leeds can keep him, as he now makes £60,000 per week in Yorkshire.
6Junior Firpo (Leeds)
£60,000 per week
Another Leeds player. Junior Firpo joined the club after spending 41 games with Barcelona. His tenure at Leeds has been up and down, but he scored and assisted in the club’s recent 3-1 victory over promotion rivals Sheffield United.
As Leeds prepare to return to the Premier League, he has eight assists in the Championship this season.
Firpo played 43 top-flight matches between 2021 and 2023, thus he should be well-prepared for promotion. Along with Solomon, he receives £60,000 every week, making him one of Elland Road’s highest-paid players.
5Nathaniel Phillips (Derby)
£65,000 per week
Nathaniel Phillips’ most recent move saw him join Derby County on a season-long loan last summer. Since joining Liverpool in 2016, the 27-year-old has made only 29 appearances for the club, with his loan transfer to Derby the fifth of his career.
His contract with Liverpool ends at the end of the season, and it does not look that he will be a regular member of Arne Slot’s team in 2025/26.
The Championship appears to be his level, as he has 21 appearances for the Rams this season and earns a stunning £65,000 per week.
4Enzo Le Fee (Sunderland)
£67,000 per week
During the winter transfer window, Enzo Le Fee joined Sunderland on loan from AS Roma until the end of the season, signaling the Black Cats’ strong purpose.
He only joined Roma six months ago and has already made eight appearances for the Championship club, scoring twice.
If everything goes well, Sunderland will have the option of signing Le Fee on a permanent basis before next season. Securing promotion will improve their chances of signing the Frenchman, who now earns £67,000 a week at the club.
3Mason Holgate (West Brom)
£70,000 per week
Despite appearing for Everton this season, Mason Holgate was loaned out to West Bromwich Albion for the duration of the 2024/25 season.
Since joining the Baggies, the Englishman has made 20 Championship appearances, winning 60% of his total duels and ceding possession only 6.6 times a game in the second division.
Performances like this may well impress David Moyes, who has kept the Toffees out of another relegation battle.
Holgate earns a handsome £70,000 per week at The Hawthorns.
2Patrick Bamford (Leeds)
£70,000 per week
Patrick Bamford scored 16 goals in the second tier during the 2019/20 season, helping Leeds to promotion, and then went on to score 17 Premier League goals the next season.
He even made his England debut in 2021 after impressing for Leeds, but things haven’t gone well since.
Despite being paid £70,000 per week, Bamford has only scored 20 goals in all competitions for Leeds over the last three seasons, placing him second on the Championship’s highest salary list.
1Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough)
£75,000 per week
Middlesbrough forward Kelechi Iheanacho tops the list, earning £75,000 per week after joining the club on loan from Sevilla.
The Nigerian centre-forward has extensive experience in England, having made over 300 games for Manchester City and Leicester City, scoring 82 goals.
He has yet to score for Boro, but once he gets his rhythm, Iheanacho may be a fantastic short-term purchase as Boro look to finish in the play-offs.
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